W.G. Rodes
Transcribed by Nichelle Marie Cleveland Hayes and contributed by Sandi Gorin.
This is the will of W. G. RODES. The original document can be found in the Barren County Courthouse, Book 4, page 400.
In the name of God Amen(?). I W.G. RODES of Barren County Kentucky being of sound mind and memory and duly impressed with the uncertainty of life and
the certainty of death do make and declare this instrument of writing my last will & testament.
1st It is my wish that all of my perrishable property be sold except such as may be necessary for my Bro. Clifton and servant Ann and her children to subsist on. At the earliest moment my herein after named executor may think best. It is my wish that my Bro. And servants above mentioned should live where they are as long at least as my Brother lives - then the place to be sold unless the laws of the county/country(?) be such that they can own, live on, and in safety enjoy the proceeds of their labor - in that event they are to live on it or not it is to be sold or not according to the judgement of my executors as advising (?) their best interest.
2nd After the payment of my past debts and the support during life and the funeral expenses of my Brother Clifton I give to my servant Ann and her now living children all that I do possessed of real personal and mixed - on account of her extraordinary care and attention to my old and helpless Bro. Clifton and to my interest whilst living - And since the country is yet in a revolutionary condition as respects the African race. I leave and entrust to my executor their direction and control as to the best and most discrete use of the means I leave them.
3rd I constitue and appoint my Christian friend Revd W. B. Edmunds (?) my sole executor requiring of him no security having implicit confidence in his christianity [ word underlined his emphasis] and for his trouble I give to him the sum of five hundred dollars. In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of June 1867.
W.G. Rodes seal
Witness
Richard Bridges J.W. Gorin/Geron (?)
This is an exact transcription. All words have been spelled the way they were shown in the document. Some words were unclear and are noted with a (?). |
